During the Romantic movement of the 1700s various writers were inspired to write poems or novels that included romantic qualities. What is Romanticism? Well, it can be defined as a movement that emphasizes self-expression and reason over logic. During this period, the emphasis shifted from the church tradition of giving people their experience to the importance of individual experience. The aspect most underlined in France is echoed in Victor Hugo's expression "liberalism in literature", meaning the liberation of the writer from constraints and rules marked by the inspiration of radical political ideas. The novel "Les Misérables" by Victor Hugo indeed demonstrates romantic qualities such as spiritual growth, emotion/sympathy and Nature. Jean Valjean is an exceptional character who demonstrates spiritual growth because he feels lost and nothing can change his life. Everything changes when he meets a bishop who says "you no longer belong to evil but to good" (Hugo 34) offers Valjean unconditional love, entrusting his life to the ex-convict because because of this Valjean becomes a new man and goes on to become a mayor kind but humble. The Romantics were fascinated by “self-exploration and the particulars of the individual's experience in the world” (Milne) because this is why writers consider the value of characters in their work. Years after meeting Bishop Valjean he begins to grow spiritually, establishing himself as mayor of a small town. There his love begins to extend to the people entrusted to his care, the citizens of his city, and the basic principles of a person of good character. Javert, a detective, constantly shows up to remind Jean Valjean of his criminal past and tells Valjean "the real Jean Valjean has been found" (...... middle of paper ...... ave], alive ...in Rue del' Homme arme, number seven” (Hugo 494). With emphasis on individuality “the Romantics valued emotion, intuition and feeling over logic” (Milne) so in the case of “Les Miserables”, Valjean lets Javert go because of his general feeling. Logically Valjean should want to kill Javert but since he judges the situation based on feeling, he comes to the conclusion of freeing him for students: presentation of analysis, context and criticism on literary movements. Ed. Ira Mark Milne 2nd edition. Detroit: Gale, 2009. Gale Virtual Reference Library Misérables: Victor Hugo 1862." Epics for Students. Ed. Sara Constantakis. 2nd ed. Vol. 1. Detroit: Gale, 2011. 377-417 Gale Virtual Reference Library. 11 May 2014.